Rug sample binder construction



3,338,409 RUG SAMPLE BINDER CONSTRUCTION Glenn M. Koellisch, 7482 Reno Drive NE., Louisville, Ohio 44641 Filed Oct. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 585,788

10 Claims. (Cl. 206-82) The invention relates to a binder for rug samples and the like, and more particularly to a binder construction from which any individual rug sample may be removed or to which an individual rug sample may be added rapidly with facility and without removing or replacing other rug samples from or to the binder.

Heretofore rug samples, which usually are 13 /2" x 18" samples supplied by a rug manufacturer, normally have been bound in a binder generally similar to a fixed post looseleaf binder having a channel back, and hinged front and back members sometimes completely covering the samples, and with rigid posts inserted through small holes formed in the rug samples similar to notebook paper punching.

The binder front cover normally also has similar holes and ordinarily small screws with large heads are threaded into the posts to secure the front hinged cover and the rug samples to the posts which in turn are secured to the back member.

Removal of any one particular rug sample from the binder for display or to leave with a customer involves unscrewing the screws, disengaging the rug samples in the binder above the desired sample from the fixed posts, removing the desired sample, then threading the two small holes in the rug samples of all rug samples removed back onto the fixed posts, re-engaging the front cover with the posts and finally replacing the small screws to again secure the binder as a portable unit. These operations must be carried out again when replacing the removed rug sample in the binder, and such operations are very timeconsuming.

Although in some instances prior rug sample binders have been adapted in some manner for expansion to receive and bind a larger number of-samples than originally contained in the binder, such provisions for expansion have not rendered the removal and replacement of some one particular sample any easier.

Accordingly, objectives of the invention are to provide a new rug sample binder construction from or to which any individual rug sample may be removed or replaced quickly and easily without telescopic disengaging or engaging of individual samples from or onto fixed binder posts for the removal of any particular sample; to provide a new binder construction which incorporates along with ease and simplicity of sample removal and replacement, substantial and ready flexibility or expandability in receiving various numbers and thicknesses of samples; and to provide a construction which accomplishes the foregoing objects, solves problems existing in the art, and satisfies existing needs in a simple and inexpensive manner.

These and other objects and advantages apparent from the following description may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difi'lculties overcome, by the structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, preferred embodiments of whichillustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description and shown in the drawing, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

The nature of the improved rug sample binder construcv United States Patent tion may be stated generally as including front and back "ice binder members, post means non-rotatably engaged with the back binder member, said post means including at least one sleeve member normally extending perpendicular to said back member and swingingly movable to a position substantially parallel with a portion of said back member; said back member being flexible to permit said swinging movement while said post means sleeve remains engaged with the back member; a plurality of rug samples releasably bound by said front and back members, each sample having an upper edge and side edges, there being at least one slot formed in each sample extending laterally from a sample side edge parallel with and spaced from the upper edge of said sample; the front binder member having at least one slot formed therein located in matching relation with said rug sample slot; said post means including a bolt adjustable in said post sleeve member and engaged in said rug sample and front binder member slots when the bolt is tightened and releasing said post means for swinging movement when the bolt is loosened, and handle means mounted on said binder members.

By way of example, embodiments of the improved rug sample binder construction are shown in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of improved construction illustrating a series of rug samples secured in the binder;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the binder back and front assemblies forming the binder of FIG. 1 with rug samples removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a top portion of a rug sample cut to accommodate the new binder construction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the binder back member shown in FIG. 2 with the rug engaging posts shown in full lines angled outwardly for removal or replacement of rug samples;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5, FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of binder construction; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of construction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

The new binder'construction indicated generally at 1 includes a back member 2, and a front member 3. The front member 3 may have an angular shape with a top flange 4 to protect the upper edges of the rug samples when the binder is assembled as in FIG. 1.

Back and front members 2 and 3 may be provided with hinged bail-like handle members 5 and 6, respectively, and back and front members 2 and 3 may be formed of heavy cardboard or pressed board or other similar material. Members 2 and 3 sometimes are covered or reinforced with decorative paper or fabric, the fabric permitting hinging or folding of sections of the members 2 or 3 if desired.

Back member 2 is formed with breaks or grooves or scores indicated at 7 to provide lateral creases along the score lines so that the back member is flexible and may be bent or folded along the score lines 7 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Preferably elongated rectangular apertures 8 are formed in back member 2 between adjacent score lines and spaced from the top edge 9 of back member 2. Apertures 8 may be surrounded or reinforced by metal grommets 10, if desired.

A pair of posts generally indicated at 11 are secured to back member 2. Each post 11 preferably includes an elongated sleeve member 12 having a squared outer surface in cross section, an enlarged head 13 at one end and a threaded bore extending substantially the entire length of sleeve 12 from the other end 14 of the sleeve.

and front member slots 16 may Preferably a wing-head bolt 15 is threaded into the bore of each post 11. Posts 11 extend through the rectangular apertures 8 of back member 2 and the squared contour of posts 11 provides non-rotatable engagement, preventing their turning in the apertures. The post heads 13 engage the rear surface of back member 2 to retain the posts assembled to the back member.

Front member 3 is formed with an elongated slot 16 extending from each side edge 17 at approximately the same distance below flange 4 of front member 3 as the location of the apertures 8 below the top edge 9 of back member 2.

such as illustrated by the sample 18 in FIG. 3, each is cut with slots 19 extending from the side edges 20 of the rug samples to match the location and contour of the slots 16 in front binder member 3.

A series of rug samples 18 piled one on top of another and engaged by posts 11 extending through rug slots 19 form a portable bound assembly as shown in FIG. 1, when posts 11 are located to extend at right angles to back member 2 and when wing bolts 15 are tightened as shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to remove any particular sample from the group or series of samples bound, the wing bolts 15 are loosened and posts 11 then may be swung or moved to positions such as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1 or in full lines in FIGS. 4 and 5, so that posts 11 are disengaged from rug sample slots 19 and binder slots 16. Any particular rug sample 18 then may be slipped from the pile of samples without otherwise materially disarranging the remaining rug samples in the pile. Then the remaining samples may again be quickly bound by moving the posts back to the full line position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and by tightening the wing bolts 15.

Expansibility for the binder construction is provided by the adjustability of the wing bolts 15 in posts 11 which accommodate a cumulative differing thickness of rug samples.

As indicated, the posts 11 normally extend perpendicular to the back member 2, as shown in FIG. 2, but either of the posts 11 may be swingingly moved to a position substantially parallel with a portion of the back member, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The flexibility of the back member along the score lines 7 permits such swinging movement while the head 13 of the post remains engaged with the back member. The elongated shape of each opening 8 in the back member permits lateral swinging movement of either sleeve member 12 in either aperture 8.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, separate handle members are provided for each of the front and back members 3 and 2 and the front and back members may be completely separated one from the other. However, the grip portion of handles and 6 may be joined if desired.

Expansibility of the binder construction may be achieved by the modified construction shown in FIG. 6 in which the front member 21 and back member 22 may be joined by a flexible connecting portion 23 formed of fabric, plastic or the like. A single handle 24 may be connected to the flexible backing portion 23. The construction shown in FIG. 6 is otherwise the same as that shown in FIG. 1 with slots 16 formed in the front member 21 and with posts 11 and wing bolts 15.

A further modified form of construction is shown in FIG. 7 which is similar to that of FIG. 6 excepting that an accordion-pleated backing portion 25 may connect the front and back members 26 and 27 and a different type of handle 28 may be connected to the backing member 25.

Accordingly, the improved construction provides a rug sample binder with which 111g samples may be removed or replaced quickly and easily without fitting rug perforations over fixed posts; provides a new construction which enables any particular rug sample to be removed or re- The rug samples,

placed without disturbing the remaining rug samples in the binder; provides a construction having subtantial expansibility in receiving various numbers and thicknesses of samples; and provides a construction which eliminates difficulties, achieves the objectives, solves problems existing in the art, and eliminates time-consuming operations heretofore encountered in transporting and displaying rug samples to prospective customers.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clear-ness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details, sizes, etc. shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved rug sample binder construction may be assembled and used, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Rug sample binder construction including front and back binder members, post means non-rotatably engaged with the back member, said post means including at least one sleeve member normally extending perpendicular to said back member and laterally swingingly movable to a position substantially parallel with a portion of said back member; said back member being flexible to permit said swinging movement, said sleeve member remaining engaged with the back member during said swinging movement; a plurality of rug samples releasably bound to said front and back members, each sample having an upper edge and side edges, there being at least one slot formed in each sample extending laterally from a sample side edge parallel with and spaced from the upper sample edge; the front member having at least one slot formed therein located in matching relation with said rug sample slot; said post means including a bolt adjustable in said sleeve member and engaged in said sample and front member slots when the bolt is tightened to bind said rug samples to said front and back members; said post means being released for swinging movement when the bolt is loosened; and handle means operatively connected with at least one of said binder members.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which a pair of rectangular apertures is formed in the back member, and in which a pair of post means is provided each having a sleeve member formed to rectangular shape in cross section with one sleeve member extending through and non-rotatably engaged in each aperture.

3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which each post means includes a sleeve member having a noncircular cross section, in which the sleeve member extends through a rectangular opening formed in the back member, in which each sleeve member has an enlarged head at one end engaged with the back member, in which each sleeve member is provided with a threaded bore extending from its other end towards said enlarged head, and in which the bolt adjustable in the post sleeve has a shank threaded into the threaded sleeve bore.

4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the post means includes a pair of sleeve members each laterally swingingly movably non-rotatably mounted on the back member, in which the rug samples each are formed with slots extending laterally from each sample side edge, and in which the front binder member has side edges and is formed with a slot extending laterally from each side edge.

5. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the back member is provided with stiff panel portions having flexible fold lines between panel portions extending parallel with each side edge, and in which a post sleeve extends through and is engaged with the back member adjacent each fold line, whereby the back member may be folded between panel portions to permit swinging movement of said post sleeve members.

6. Rug sample binder construction for use in binding rug samples having top and side edges and slots formed extending laterally from the side edges spaced from and parallel with the top edge; the binder construction including front and back binder members, post means nonrotatably engaged with the back member, said post means including at least one sleeve member normally extending perpendicular to said back member and laterally swingingly movable to a position substantially parallel with a portion of said back member; said back member being flexible to permit said swinging movement, said sleeve member remaining engaged with the back member during said swinging movement; the front binder member having a top edge portion and side edges, there being at least one slot formed in the front binder member extending laterally from one side edge spaced from said upper edge portion and located in matching relation with the slots of a series of rug samples to be bound; said post means including a bolt adjustable in said sleeve member and engaged in the front member slot when the bolt is tightened and adapted to be engaged in slots in rug samples bound by said binder members; said post means being released for swinging movement when the bolt is loosened; and handle means operatively connected with at least one of said binder members.

7. The construction defined in claim 6 in which a pair of rectangular apertures is formed in the back member, and in which a pair of post means is provided each having a sleeve member formed to rectangular shape in cross section with one sleeve member extending through and non-rotatably engaged in each aperture.

8. The construction defined in claim 6 in which each post means includes a sleeve member having a noncircular cross section, in which the sleeve member extends through a rectangular opening formed in the back member, in which the sleeve member has an enlarged head at one end engaged with the back member, in which each sleeve member is provided with a threaded bore extending from its other end towards said enlarged head, and in which the bolt adjustable in the post sleeve has a shank threaded into the threaded sleeve bore.

9. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the post means includes a pair of sleeve members each laterally swingingly movably non-rotatably mounted on the back member, and in which the front binder member has side edges and is formed with a slot extending laterally from each side edge.

10. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the back member is provided with stiff panel portions, in which a pair of flexible fold lines is located extending parallel with and spaced from each side edge, in which the fold lines separate adjacent panel portions, in which an aperture is formed between the fold lines of each pair, and in which a post sleeve extends through each aperture and is engaged with the back member, whereby the back member may be folded along said fold lines to permit swinging movement of said post sleeve members.

No references cited.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. RUG SAMPLE BINDER CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING FRONT AND BACK BINDER MEMBERS, POST MEANS NON-ROTATABLY ENGAGED WITH THE BACK MEMBER, SAID POST MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SLEEVE MEMBER NORMALLY EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID BACK MEMBER AND LATERALLY SWINGINGLY MOVABLE TO A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH A PORTION OF SAID BACK MEMBER; SAID BACK MEMBER BEING FLEXIBLE TO PERMIT SAID SWINGING MOVEMENT, SAID SLEEVE MEMBER REMAINING ENGAGED WITH THE BACK MEMBER DURING SAID SWINGING MOVEMENT; A PLURALITY OF RUG SAMPLES RELEASABLY BOUND TO SAID FRONT AND BACK MEMBERS, EACH SAMPLE HAVING AN UPPER EDGE AND SIDE EDGE, THERE BEING AT LEAST ONE SLOT FORMED IN EACH SAMPLE EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM A SAMPLE SIDE EDGE PARALLEL WITH AND SPACED FROM THE UPPER SAMPLE 